One of the most electrifying forces in contemporary British jazz, Rosie Frater-Taylor is a virtuoso guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of remarkable emotional depth. Equal parts dedicated student of jazz guitar and admirer of iconic singer-songwriters, she seamlessly weaves rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk into her singular sound.
On her latest album, Featherweight - Deluxe Edition (November 2024), Frater-Taylor draws on the legacy of luminaries such as Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny, and Steely Dan, while incorporating modern, rock-tinged influences like John Mayer, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Madison Cunningham. Featherweight has earned widespread critical acclaim, with accolades from KCRW, BBC Radio 1, Jazz FM, MOJO, Hi-Fi, Guitar.com, and Guitar World. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page lauded her exceptional “connection with the guitar” following her performance at the Gibson Garage launch. Rosie has also been spotlighted on Quincy Jones’ Qwest TV, Spotify’s ‘Best of Jazz UK 2024’ playlist and has graced the stages of iconic festivals such as Love Supreme, British Summer Time, and the London Jazz Festival.
A compelling live performer, Frater-Taylor captured the dynamic energy of her band while recording Featherweight shortly after an ambitious 2022 tour comprising 60 UK/EU live dates. The album reflects her evolving emotional and musical sophistication, delving into emotional themes and an expansive spectrum of sound-worlds, all unified by her signature songwriting, guitar work, and vocal prowess.
“Such a connection with the guitar”
Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin
“Frater-Taylor plays guitar like an angel & scats along to long Loueke-like lines that tumble and build as light yet large as a summer cloud.”
Jazzwise Magazine
“Astonishingly mature album for one so young”
MOJO Magazine
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Rosie’s artistry extends to the digital realm, where her engaging one-minute covers have garnered a devoted following. Highlights include her 2-million-streamed rendition of Stevie Nicks’ “Dreams” and a jazz-inflected interpretation of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.”
Initially receiving drum lessons from her father at the age of eight. By ten, she had written her first song and by fourteen, she was performing original music on London’s live circuit. In 2021, while completing her degree at the Royal Academy of Music, she produced and released her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Bloom, which amassed over 3 million streams and earned a Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards nomination.
Since then, Frater-Taylor has toured extensively, performing at prestigious venues such as the Barbican and festivals like We Out Here. Sharing stages with celebrated artists including Madison Cunningham and Kurt Rosenwinkel, she continues to cement her place as one of the most compelling voices shaping the future of contemporary jazz and beyond.
In 2024, Rosie collaborated with the critically acclaimed Modern Jazz & Folk Ensemble whose self-titled LP (featuring Pentangle’s Jacqui McShee) is out now on Acid Jazz Records. The record aptly celebrates the fruits of genre-crossover in its re-imaginings of classic folk repertoire.
“the character from Rosie in this, the guitars and how charming they are… wonderful blend of singer songwriter music right here”
Jack Saunders, BBC Radio 1
"Simply riveting... Combining a jazz-infused guitar-meets-vocal vamping style with an indie-rock approach, Rosie Frater-Taylor is like no other guitarist today… Astounding new album"
Guitar World
